The Caltrain Board of Directors adopted changes to the agency’s fares that will provide low income rides with discounted fares and will generate additional revenue to help support the system’s operating and maintenance needs over the next few years.
Caltrain is the only transit system in the region without a dedicated funding source to support its operations. Projections for the coming years anticipate that contributions from Caltrain’s member agencies will remain flat and indicate that the agency will require additional revenue to offset costs associated with the operation of new federally-mandated safety systems. The fare changes will generate nearly $25 million over the next three years to support these needs.
The changes allow Caltrain to participate in a Regional Means Based Fare Pilot Program currently scheduled to begin in early 2020. By participating in this regional program, Caltrain will be able to offer eligible participants a 20% discount on single-ride adult Clipper Card fares.
The changes also include a 20% increase to the price of the Go Pass that will become effective on January 1, 2020, with a 5% increase to follow every two years on January 1. Clipper discounts for one-way fares and monthly passes will also be reduced by 30 cents on April 1, 2020. The Caltrain Go Pass program allows companies, educational institutions and residential complexes to purchase annual unlimited-ride passes for all eligible employees, residents or students
Additionally, there will be regular incremental fare increases every two years, with a 50 cent increase to the base fare scheduled for July 2020, a 25 cent increase to the zone fare scheduled for July 2022 and a 50 cent increase to the base fare scheduled for July 2024.
Caltrain is exploring options to create a dedicated revenue source in 2020 to help fund options for expanded service being evaluated in the Caltrain Business Plan.
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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with limited commute service to Gilroy. While the Joint Powers Board assumed operating responsibilities for the service in 1992, the railroad celebrated 150 years of continuous passenger service in 2014. Planning for the next 150 years of Peninsula rail service, Caltrain is on pace to electrify the corridor, reduce diesel emissions by 97 percent by 2040 and add more service to more stations.
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